Loose leaf binder



Sept. 29, 1931. I J MCMILLAN 1,825,360

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. 12, i539 UWW Patented Sept. 29, 1931 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN L. MCMILLAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MCMILLAN BOOK COM- PANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW] YORK LOOSE LEAF BINDER Application filed August 12, 1929. Serial No. 385,103.

This invention relates to a new and improved loose leaf binder and has particular reference to a means for'securing the edges of the leather or othercovering which is usually applied to the back members and covers of binders of this type and it also has reference to the method of forming and applying such binding means.

In loose leaf binders, it is usual to cover the back member and the covers of the binder with leather,-canvas or some other appropriate material for the sake of protecting the cardboard or other material which is used in forming such parts of the binder, and also for the purpose of improving the appearance of the book.

The usual method of applying this leather or other material is to secure the same to the material of which the binder is made by means of adhesive.

When a book is made in this way, there is no protection for the edges of the covering material with the result that in use such edges are liable to be pulled away with the result that the binder becomes unsightly.

The main object of my. invention is to provide a means whereby the edges of the binding material on a binder will be immovably secured in place and will be protected while the book is in use.

Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape, arrangement of parts and the method by which such parts are made and assembled, all as will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1.

It will be understood that my invention may be used with any type of binder whether loose leaf or not where it is desired to protect the edges of the covering material on the binder, but my invention is particularly well adapted for that type of binder in which are provided two opposed back members hinged ly connected together so that the binder may be opened to permit the insertion or removal of loose leaves and for the purpose of de scribing my invention, 1 have here shown a binder of the latter type. v

' The binder 1 comprises a housing 2 hingedly connected by means of a piano hinge 3 to a second housing at. i

A cover 5 is hingedly connected to one cage of housing 2 as by-a piano hinge 6 and a second cover 7 is hingedly connected to housing a as by a piano hinge 8.

in housing 21 provide aplurality,one only being shown,'of spaced prongs 9 adapted to have their forward ends contact with the outer edge of housing 4 when the binder is closed.

Similarly, I provide in housingl a plurality, one only-being shown, of spaced prongs 10 which are in staggered relation to prongs 9 and whichare adapted to have their outer ends contact with the outer edge of housing 2 when the binder is closed.

I also prefer to provide on the outer bottom edges ofhousing 2, a pair of spaced rollers 11 and 12 to permit the binder tobe moved easily on a table or other support.

A similar pair of spaced rollers 13 and 14 is provided in housing 4.

Sofar as my invention is concerned, housing disconstructed in exactly the same manner as is housing 2 so that a description of the various partsof housing 2 and the method of assembling the same will serve asa descrip tion of both housings 2 and 4:. Hous1ng 2 comprlses a tubular metal memberflfy approximately!rectangular in cross section inside of'which the inner ends of prongs 9 are secured. 1

On the outer and bottom faces of housing 2, I provide a covering of heavy cardboard 16 which is secured in place by the use of glue or some other adhesive.

On the outer surface ofcardbo'ard 16 I secure,'by the use of glue or some other adhesive, a cover 16 which is usually of leather butwh'ich maybe of other covering material if desired.

On the upper edge of housing 2 adjacent hinge 6, I secure as by welding a metal strip 18 which underlies the edge of covering 17 and which is then return bent as shown at --a-,'Figure 2, to securely grip the edge of covering 17 and hold the same against displacement.

A similar metal strip 19 is secured to the inside bottom edge of housing 2 adjacent hinge 3 and underlying the bottom edge of covering 17.

A strip 19 is return bent, as shown at b in Figure 2, to securely grip the edge of cover 17 and held the same against displacement.

Housing 4: is made and assembled in a similar manner.

It will be seen that with strips 18 and 19 in position, the edges of the covering 17 are protected against any displacement which might be caused through the use and manipulation of the book and that therefore there is no danger of the covering 17 becoming displaced to mar the appearance of the book.

For the purpose of protecting the rear edges of the covering material which is placed on the covers of the binder I also use a strip similar in function to strips 18 and 19.

The cover 5 of the book has inserted therein and secured thereto, as by rivets 20, a metal strip 21 which functions as a part of hinge 6.

A metal strip 22 is secured to strip 21, as by welding, adjacent to hinge 6.

The cover 5 is formed of a heavy cardboard 23 having its outer surface covered by a covering material 24.

The rear edge of my covering 24: is positioned on top of strip 22 which strip 22 is return bent as shown at 0- for firmly gripping the rear edge of covering 24 and holding the same against displacement.

Cover 7 is constructed in a similar manner so that the description of cover 5 and its component parts will serve as a description of cover 7.

Although I have here specifically described the binding strips 18 and 19 and 22 as being applied to a. particular part of a binder, it will. be understood that they are well adapted to be used on any part of a binder where the edges of the covering material on such binder require protection.

It will also be understood that the materials of which the binder and the various part thereof are made may be varied as desired as may be the exact relation of the parts therefor. for although I have shown and described a specific structure and form of part and the manner in which the different parts are assembled as an exemplifieation of an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape or relation of parts as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a cover system including a back member and covers carried by the back member, covering material secured to the cover system and protective strips secured to the cover system return bent to overlie the edges of the covering material.

2. In a book binding, a cover system including a back member and covers, a covering material secured to the back member, a protective strip secured to the back member and having an edge portion underlying an edge of the covering material, and another portion of the protective strip engaged with the outer surface of the covering material.

8. In a loose leaf binder, a cover system including a back member and covers hinged to the back member, covering material secured to the cover system, and strips secured to the cover system engaged with edges of the covering material to overlie said edges and project outwardly of the cover system to constitute a protector for the edges of the covering material.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 

